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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 100921915 - Atlas Powder Company
Inspection Information - Office: Kansas City Area Office
Site Address:
Atlas Powder Company
Rt. Aa & E. Newman Road
Joplin, MO 64801
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 87, Joplin, MO 64801
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:2892
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 09/15/1989
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 10/30/1989
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 360354500 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 2 | 2 | ||||
| Current Violations | 2 | 2 | ||||
| Initial Penalty | $1,620 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,620 |
| Current Penalty | $1,620 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,620 |
| FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| # | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 01001 | Serious | 19100109 B01 | 10/04/1989 | 10/07/1989 | $810 | $810 | $0 | - | ||
| 2. | 01002A | Serious | 19101200 D02 | 10/04/1989 | 10/07/1989 | $810 | $810 | $0 | - | ||
| 3. | 01002B | Serious | 19101200 E01 II | 10/04/1989 | 10/07/1989 | $0 | $0 | $0 | - | ||
| 4. | 01002C | Serious | 19101200 H | 10/04/1989 | 10/07/1989 | $0 | $0 | $0 | - |
Investigation Summary
A PLANT WAS MAKING PENTOLITE, A CLASS OF EXPLOSIVE PRIMER. WORKERS WERE MIXING TNT AND PETN IN TWO KETTLES THAT WERE HEATED TO ABOUT 212 DEGREES BY HOT WATER AND STEAM. THE FLOW OF HOT WATER SLOWED DUE TO A PUMP MALFUNCTION, SOLIDIFYING THE TNT-PETN MIXTURE IN A PIPE BENEATH ONE KETTLE. EMPLOYEES #1 AND #2 TRIED TO REMOVE THE BLOCKAGE WITH THE PIPE IN PLACE USING HOT WATER. THIS DID NOT WORK, SO THE PIPE CONTAINING THE SOLID MIX WAS REMOVED AND PLACED ON THE FLOOR. ONE EMPLOYEE TRIED TO PRY THE STOPPAGE LOOSE USING A SCREW DRIVER AND A RAWHIDE MALLET. THIS CAUSED THE SHOCK-SENSITIVE TNT-PETN MIXTURE TO EXPLODE. THE EXPLOSION KILLED TWO EMPLOYEES AND INJURED TWO OTHERS.
Keywords: EXPLOSIVES, EXPLOSIVE MIXING, WORK RULES, CLOGGED, EXPLOSION, CHEMICAL
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100921915 | Fatality | Other | Occupation not reported | ||
| 2 | 100921915 | Fatality | Other | Occupation not reported | ||
| 3 | 100921915 | Hospitalized injury | Other | Occupation not reported | ||
| 4 | 100921915 | Hospitalized injury | Cut/Laceration | Occupation not reported |